2007-2008 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Competition Looks for Applicants at Colorado State University

The Institute of International Education, the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board today announced the launch of the 2007-2008 Fulbright U.S. Student Program Competition.

Martha Denney, director of International Education at Colorado State University and campus Fulbright Program Adviser, encourages outstanding students who are completing their junior and senior years as well as graduate students to apply.

The last information session of the semester will be held from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, in Laurel Hall on the Colorado State campus. Students currently enrolled at Colorado State must contact Denney to apply. The deadline is 5 p.m. Sept. 1.

Applicants to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program must be U.S. citizens at the time of application and hold a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent by the beginning of the grant. Professional applicants lacking a degree but with extensive professional study and/or experience in the field in which they wish to pursue a project may also be considered.

In the creative and performing arts, four years professional training and/or experience meets the basic eligibility requirements. Applications from young professionals interested in an international experience are also encouraged.

For 60 years, the federal government-sponsored Fulbright U.S. Student Program has provided future American leaders with an unparalleled opportunity to study, conduct research and teach in other countries. Fulbright student grants aim to increase mutual understanding among nations through educational and cultural exchange while serving as a catalyst for a long-term leadership development.

"The Fulbright Scholarship is a prestigious award that gives students the opportunity to exchange ideas and skills with well-known scholars abroad," Denney said. "Fulbright scholars represent the United States and learn about other cultures through immersion in their academic system. Sen. Fulbright’s dreams of having students participate in an exchange to achieve mutual respect and understanding has become the showpiece for educational exchange in the United States."

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards about 1,200 grants annually and currently operates in over 140 countries worldwide. Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships are now available to more than 20 countries. Fulbright full grants generally provide funding for round-trip travel, maintenance for one academic year, health and accident coverage, and full or partial tuition.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 273,500 participants worldwide with the opportunity to observe each others’ political, economic and cultural institutions, exchange ideas and embark on joint ventures of importance to the general welfare of the world’s inhabitants. In the past 60 years, 102,900 American students, scholars and teachers have benefited from the Fulbright experience.

The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. Financial support is provided by an annual appropriation from the United States Congress to the Department of State and by participating foreign governments and host institutions in the United States and abroad. The Presidentially appointed J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board formulates policy guidelines and makes the final selection of all grantees.

The Institute of International Education administers and coordinates the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, including the annual competition for grants.

For more information, go to the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Web site at www.fulbrightonline.org.

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